Hearing from God

" I hear this most gentle whisper from one I never guessed would speak to me." Ps 81:5

It is so difficult to get your voice heard in the world. Often it is a case of not what you know but who you know that gets your voice heard. Other times you need to be loud or 'different' or controversial to get yourself some attention (cue the lunatic pastor in America or the Australian lawyer who think that burning religious books is smart).

This is the way of the world.

But not for the first time in scripture we see God coming in a quiet way (although other translations of vs 5 are less clear). We need to be consciously trying to engage God in order to hear him if he comes with a gentle whisper.

The Psalmist also says "I never guessed (He) would speak to me". Most of us would say that too. Who are we that God would choose to speak to us? If we don't have a high profile, if we don't have some influential person to open a few doors for us, if we don't do something outrageous to draw God's attention, then what hope do we have? Yet, God does want to speak to us.

Interesting isn't it that the God of the universe, the Creator, wants to speak to us and yet we don't think that he would want to and so don't spend time listening for his gentle voice.

At church we have come off a very busy weekend with lots of people returning for our 125th anniversary. It was loud both in terms of the music and the number of conversations going on between people who hadn't seen each other for some time. Some people leave events like that exilerated and energised. I came away drained. Maybe I just don't like crowds. But it has reminded me of the fact that in the frentetic pace of events and the loudness of gathered crowds it's sometimes hard to hear from God, even in a place designed specifically for that purpose.

God forgive me for not listening and not expecting to hear from you even though you have made it clear that you want to have this strong relationship with me.